Port-of-Spain, Trinidad - With unity and a goal, societies can prove unstoppable. This is what Soca artiste, Shurwayne Winchester has recognized three years after establishing Team A Plus, a group that effectively collaborates with parents and staff at willing educational institutions, to elevate their respective school environments. On Saturday, June 6th, ‘The Vineyard’ will ultimately offer students of St. Xavier’s Private Primary School a refreshed reading and learning environment when their school library is upgraded.
“The goal for the Vineyard this year is the enhancement of the library at St. Xavier’s,” said Shurwayne. He says the library requires structural upgrades, identified by officials at the school. “These upgrades will create a more inviting experience for the children. We want the children to come into that space and enjoy the books. We’ll also be adding a touch of technology, because of the times we’re in,” he explained.
This year’s food inclusive event is being hosted at the school, along Richmond Street in St. Joseph, and will feature artistes like Vaughnette Bigford, Terri Lyons, Nisa, Destra Garcia, Tony Paul, and Shurwayne with his band, YOU. “This is not about me. I am no hero. I am just the face and the voice. We are a small team, committed to a cause,” he said, highlighting that the artistes, service providers and the support of parents and school staff, ultimately brings success to each effort. “The artistes who offer their performances at a discounted cost, are the real heroes. The service staff who negotiate payment plans with us and of course, the parents and school staff who work with us to bring success to their events, these are the people who must be credited for understanding the goal.”
Already committed to 5 events annually, Shurwayne says three additional school projects have been added to the team’s calendar for 2027. Following Saturday’s event, ‘Just the Two of Us’ will be hosted in Sangre Grande in aid of the development of a playing field area for the students of the Cunapo RC Primary School. “As children they should have an area where they can play. They need grass beneath their feet to play football and cricket, if they so wish. There is access to a piece of land through the school, and we’re going to backfill the land and fence it,” said the entertainer, explaining that the event is being held on July 11th as a Parang in July themed event.
A father himself, Shurwayne understands the importance of education and an environment that is conducive not only to learning, but growing holistically. “On October 3rd, we’ll be hosting Sunset on the Hill in Signal Hill Tobago. That event will support the needs of two schools at home in Tobago,” he shared, pointing to the Signal Hill Primary and Secondary Schools. “We’ll be building a covering for the steelpan area at the Signal Hill Primary School so that the students can practice even when there’s inclement weather, and at the Secondary school, funds will be donated for much needed technical equipment like printers and computers,” he said.
Two events to close off the year in November and December ultimately capture the hope of a group of dedicated adults who understand the need for unity, and seeing the bigger picture. “If we can give our children more opportunities and show them that they have a choice, offer them the opportunities to choose what they would like to do, whether it’s sports, information technology, whatever it may be, while delivering the right classroom environment to them, then maybe we can create the change we’d like to see; Maybe we can save a few of our youths from falling through the cracks,” said Shurwayne. “Some schools just don’t have the budget to give the students the best opportunities and then we look at those schools and say the children are bad, but often time, there’s a bigger issue at play. Sometimes the schools just cannot afford to give the children what they need to think bigger.”
Team A Plus’ year will end with sweet Parang music and efforts to help Bishops Anstey Junior School and St. Benedicts College in San Fernando. “On November 12th, we’ll be hosting Pepper Pot Parang in aid of repairing a walkway covering at Bishops Junior School, and then on December 5th, Parang Down South will assist another school in covering their pavilion,” said the artiste.
Shurwayne knows he is doing exactly what he is meant to, and believes that at the helm of everything stands God. “We’re doing this through God’s grace. Some of the things we’re getting through with, there’s just no way possible that we could have done any of that. I am grateful to the team of people in my corner, the artistes who are giving their support, the service providers and the people who allow me to barter my performances with them to make this happen for the children. I’m also grateful to the sponsors who’ve come on board. They are the stars. I just do what my heart tells me to do.”
